Best Club | Best Player | Best Stalwart | Best Team | Best Coach | Best Education Program
Best Club | Best Player | Best Stalwart | Best Team | Best Coach | Best Education Program
So many great entries in this category. Have a read and get voting for the chance to win fantastic prizes!
Basketball
Best Club: Ringwood Hawks
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Our club has 39 junior teams ranging from under 12's to under 20's, male and female players that play all across Victoria. We also has 4 senior teams that play in the highest basketball league in the State. Ringwood Hawks run many programs to introduce basketball to young children. We introduce sport and a healthy lifestyle, but it doesn’t stop there. Ringwood Hawks also cater basketball programs to all ages through the running of competitive competitions during the week. Senior players at the club go above and beyond just playing games on a weekly basis, they head out to local schools in the Maroondah area teaching children how to eat healthy and play sport. We are the only community based association to do this all at our own cost. Not only do they visit the local schools, they also visit hospitals to put a smile on children’s faces. Our commitment to the community and promotion of the sport is the reason the Ringwood Hawks should be in contention to win the award of the best club.
Nominated by Ken Harrington (Coaching Director)
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Baseball
Best Club: Essendon Baseball Club Inc.
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Essendon Baseball Club (EBC) was established in 1893. We currently have 430 players and members, ranging from ages 5 to 80. We have won 6 of the last 7 “Victorian Baseball Club Champion’s Award” being overall the most successful club throughout all grades of baseball in the state. We have also won the last 4, A grade premierships and are only the second team in Victorian baseball history to achieve this. EBC have been in 7 of the last 8 grand finals. If we are successful this season we will make history as the only club to win 5 in a row. Due to our achievements both on and off the field, at the “2014 Baseball Australia Diamond Awards” EBC won the award for the best overall baseball club in the country. We were also short listed in 2014 and recognised by “Sport and Recreation Victoria” as one of the top 5 sporting clubs in the state, out of all sporting codes. We are progressive in our sport by sending junior coaches overseas for development to invest in our junior program and currently creating pathways for future umpires and scorers. We are the only club that is represented in both winter and summer leagues in A grade competition Our club has a strong culture of developing our juniors and currently is reflected by having 8 college players in the USA, “one making the college all star team which has never been done before this year by an Australian”, 2 in the major league system, one major league player, one Australian women’s player, one silver medallist in the Olympics and one in the Australian team for the World Baseball Classic. We are one of only a few A grade clubs where all senior players “pay to play” no matter their playing credentials. This demonstrates their commitment to our club and each other which is a significant reason for our success on the field. Most of the senior group now have partners and children that are active in the club, creating a family environment which has kept the playing group together and maintained longevity for all players “EBC Love” is a frequently used phrase by all our members; it reflects our commitment to the club and each other. This is displayed on t shirts, hats, website, emails etc. This love for each other was also highlighted with the tragic passing of Chris Lane who was representing our club in the US at college. We came together and supported his family by holding a memorial game in Chris’s honour and are now working with council and Major League Baseball to create the only junior purpose built field in Australia in Chris’s name. A quote from an opposition club “It’s fortunate that Chris was a member of EBC as no other club in the country could have handled the magnitude of the situation with the respect and dignity the way EBC did”.
Nominated by Tony Cornish (President)
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Soccer
Best Club: Adamstown Rosebud FC
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Adamstown Rosebud FC was established on Monday July 12, 1889 at a meeting to form a new “British Association” football club by a group of English miners. The club has a proud history in Australian football (soccer) competing in state and national competitions. The club’s first title was back in 1894 when Adamstown Rosebud did the double and won the Newcastle Badge Competition and the Ellis Cup. The club would go on to win many more competitions and titles that would go towards carving the tradition and history of this historic club. Over this 126-year history, ARFC has had 26 players that have represented Australia whilst playing for the club. Names such as Alan Johns, Ray Baartz, Col Curran, Joe Senkalski and Graham Jennings are celebrated throughout Northern NSW and Australian football circles. In 2015, the club fielded seven teams in the Northern NSW National Premier League (NPL) consisting of U13, U14, U15, U17, U19, U22 and First Grade. Player Welfare is the top priority and the club is dedicated to care for all young and older players, both on and off the field, and provides the very best, safe and secure facilities. The club’s coaches are trained and experienced in the delivery of a coaching curriculum that is appreciative and receptive to the individual and collective needs of young people from differing cultures and backgrounds. From 1984 to 1986, the club fielded teams in both Northern Federation State League and the National Soccer League. This was in response to the Newcastle flagship that represented the region in the National league going bankrupt. Adamstown Rosebud took on the responsibility of representing the Hunter region in the National Soccer League. It was in this period that the club won the National Cup and National Youth Cup. However the high cost of competing in both the national and local competitions with minimal return was a financial disaster that impacted heavily on the club and almost led to the club folding. In 2010, the club implemented a five year plan in an effort to once again emerge as a leading football club in the NNSW region. With the strong and effective work implemented by Andy Stankovic and his committee (who are all volunteers), the club returned to the premier competition in the region in 2013. Adamstown Rosebud is an iconic club that has a rich football history. The club’s focus is on contributing to the social well being of its players and the community it serves. It has been a long road that has seen generations of Australians contribute to the great sporting culture of this nation. The club deserves to be recognized for its long and wealthy contribution to our society.
Nominated by Andrew Licata (Former player, U14 coach & committee volunteer)
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Australian Rules Football
Best Club: Bidyadanga Emus, WKFL
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I have worked with this team all year, they had 12 straight wins and played at home for the first time in decades. They have no money and no sponsors, but every week the players and coaches are hard working and focussed. Yesterday they got knocked out of the finals, following this they were humble and proud, their supporters were amazing and we are ready to bring it on for next year. I feel this club deserves the Clubbie because it's not easy to be a young man living in a remote aboriginal community, but these blokes just get on with it.
Nominated by Anita Campbell (Team Doctor)
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Soccer
Best Club: FC Birrarung, FFV
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FC Birrarung is a community football club for juniors that has inspired so many local families to take up the game and live for the joy of football. It has doubled in size this year, but maintains an inclusive, friendly, supportive yet competitive atmosphere. Training is based on the national football curriculum. FCB is run by passionate volunteers and parents who aim to develop players for the long term and are not about creating short term wins. We also believe in making sure the kids have a whole lot of fun. It is what grass-roots football should be all about and I have been privileged to play a small role in that.
Nominated by Nina Field (Parent turned 1st year coach of U10 Wallabies)
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Surfing
Best Club: Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club
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Giving back to the Community via financial donations $500 – young indigenous surfer and Cancer patient $500 - Disabled Surfers Association $350 – local surfer and skating identity rehab after accident $200 – Junior surfers Christian Mission to Bali $600 – shared between Westpac Life Savers Helicopter Northern Region & Mathew Lee Official Funding Raising (Ballina local, attacked by shark). Billabong OZ Grom Cup - The Billabong OZ Grom Cup presented by Kustom - Formulated, instigated & implemented by CHBC, a prestigious new Australian Junior event. 11 divisions and attracting over 230 National surfers each year. The event was supported and advertised across major media TV and Radio Stations Nationally. CHBC is 3 years into the new instated working committee of some 19 roles accounted for with a concentration and developed attitude toward a family-orientated, competitive, prestigious and community minded club that we can all be proud of. The development of this club far outweighs any one significant event and memberships have increased over 300% in 2 years and our club motto of “ Stand up and be Counted “ is shining proud and bright.
Nominated by Lauryn Nicholls (Committee Member)
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Baseball
Best Club: St Marys District Baseball Club
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I am new to Saints, but after one season I fell in love with the family club and took an opening on the committee. Upon spending time learning about the club I found a team of people who love the sport, and who love children. Saints offers children 4-7yo the opportunity every season to compete in little teams in a t-ball competition in hopes they will grow with the sport. Saints hosts international friendly matches with team Japan, and holds year round senior competitions which have options of playing weekend games or Friday night games to ensure parents get to enjoy the sport they love around family commitments. Another factor which makes Saints a grassroots club is the initiation of 'Challenger League' (special needs children) gala days in 2016 and eventually a full competition!
Nominated by Nicole Lawrence (Vice President)
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Equestrian
Best Club: Dryandra Regional Equestrian Association
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Our club is like many in regional areas but has been tested over the years with the loss of our grounds and cross country course and relocation to a nearby, supportive shire (Cuballing). We have a small but dedicated committee who at times have felt like giving up - but continue to volunteer their time to ensure the continued growth of the club. Since relocating, the club has gone from strength to strength thanks to the support of Royalties for Regions and the Shire of Cuballing we have seen development of an indoor arena, new club rooms and members assisted in the mammoth task of relocating the cross country course. We run dressage championships, show jump championships and a CIC level eventing competition as well as grass roots adult riding activities. I think our club is a great example of what can be achieved by everyday volunteers working together with a common aim.
Nominated by Jacqui Early (Committee member)
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Netball
Best Club: St Mary's Netball Club
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St Mary's Netball Club has around 60 members which includes boys, girls and ladies. The club is multi-cultural and many members are from different countries and communities. Many of the members are new arrivals to Australia and live in the Dandenong area. Some of these members find it hard to pay the fees and the cost of the right uniform and runners for their children. The club accepts all new members and treats everyone as equals. The club helps where they can and keeps the fees low so that all children who want to play can play. My personal experience with my daughter joining this club has been outstanding. I was looking for a club where she would be treated as a equal and not discriminated against because she is born in Ethiopia. I have found this club to be kind and encouraging to my daughter so much so that I have put my hand up to help them by fundraising where I can. I believe this club deserves all the support they can get as they are encouraging sport for those who may not have had that opportunity elsewhere.
Nominated by Coral Rieschieck (Parent and fundraising co-ordinator)
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Surfing
Best Club: North West Boardriders
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We are building a grassroots club of 80-100 members, who pride ourselves on community service. We provide a positive environment for family and kid groups to develop their skills through surfing and skateboarding, thus engaging them socially in a healthy and positive way. We run senior events, comprising of surfing, sup, bodyboarding, skateboarding and longboarding, as well as annual board exhibitions, film nights and live music to help showcase members’ and friends’ surfing lifestyles. As a non for profit organisation, we are run by a small group of loyal/dedicated individuals who generously give up their own time to make sure there is a healthy/positive environment for people from all walks of life, within the community to engage in!
Mick van der Woude (President, active member, boardrider)
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Rugby Union
Best Club: North Coast Rugby Union Club
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We are a small junior club and we are like one big family. Our club shows true sportsmanship. We are a small fish in a big fish sport and with every knockdown being a small club we smile, wipe the dust off and grow stronger as a united club.
Nominated by Denise Tuck (Treasurer)
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Baseball
Best Club: St Marys Baseball
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Our club has put in a lot of effort into making sure our kids play a good game of baseball, not only for the kids but for the adults too. Over the years we have many kids smile and laugh, hit balls, catching balls in our friendly orientated games during the week and weekends that we play. As a club we have tried to build up our love and money for the sport and pass it over to our kids and adults in fundrasing etc and give back over the years to them. We are still a growing club and would have to be in my terms "Fab Fam Bam" with the kiddies coming back for more each year. We strive in everything to make sure our kids get the most fun out of playing the sport they love. Our presidents Rick and Kelly have dedicated their hearts and souls into making our club "A friendly atmosphere". We have big kit bags and shades that have to be lugged around and including bases, food for our canteen. Our presidents do this in their own vehicles and have done for the past few years of being at our club.
Nominated by Alicia Schwarz (Fundraiser)
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Baseball, Tee Ball, Softball
Best Club: North Coast Ball Club
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North Coast has been part of our local community for over 25 years and with a handful of main committee members, year in and year out they provide a fun, healthy and family environment for everyone. They dedicate themselves to welcoming everyone no matter what your skill or situation. The Committee continues to keep fees at a minimum and are not all about the bottom line which keeps members coming back year after year and new ones joining. North Coast Ball Club support local businesses and in turn they support our members; it’s a wonderful community relationship. Although for many years they have been a focused Tee Ball club, for the past two years they have strived to develop a stronger baseball code and are succeeding in matching it with surrounding dedicated baseball club and producing some fantastic local talent. They deserve to win a Clubbie for their heart and soul that gets put into the running of the club. I have been part of the club for 11 years now and my kids wouldn't play anywhere else. They have made many lifelong friends and will continue to enjoy many years ahead at North Coast.
Nominated by STACIE KONKEL (Member)
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Baseball
Best Club: Rockingham Rams Baseball Club, WA
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Rockingham Rams Baseball Club is a local sporting club with a huge sense of community! They give kids and adults of all ages a friendly place to be part of a team. From people who have never played team sport to up and coming athletes to the old players that can’t let go everyone is welcomed and encouraged to do their best. The club has a long history in Rockingham, I was warmly welcomed and instantly became part of the RAMS family. Great bunch of people!
Nominated by Shaun Gilchrist (player)
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Baseball
Best Club: Swan Districts Junior Baseball Club
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The Swan Districts Junior Baseball Club is producing some of the best junior baseballers in the country. This year, a Little League team from our charter participated in the National Championships in NSW, and made it to the final after having not lost a single game at the National Championships. Unfortunately, they lost the final but making the final entitled the team to represent Australia at the Cal Ripken World Series in the USA in July. It is the dedicated and committed coaches, support staff and committee members that give their time to the players and their families that is making the club a wonderful club to be a part of, and helping the club to produce such talented players, and the club continues to grow.
Nominated by Debra Webb (Secretary)
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Surf Lifesaving
Best Club: Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club Inc
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The Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club has just celebrated their 50 years of patrolling the Beach at Rainbow. I have been privileged to have been their paid administrator for the last 7 years. It has never ceased to amaze me on how much time the volunteers put into keeping our beach safe. The majority of members travel 75 k's from Gympie to participate in their patrols twice monthly. Our junior nippers are held on Sunday mornings and once again our patrolling members are giving their time for water safety. It is never too much trouble to help out and as we are a small club members are required to fill in. We had 6 members do over 100 hours of patrolling last season. When Assessors and trainers come up to Rainbow to run first Aid courses etc they love the club and always put their hand up to return. The Life savers hold a nipper carnival in Rainbow every October for over 900 competitors. Once again our small number of members are up at 5am working to get the beach organised. At the end of the day everything has to be put away again. Young and old work together. It is a wonderful sight. We have two members who have done over 40 years of patrolling and still patrol with the Old Boys, most of whom are Life Members, twice a month. I hear nothing but praise for our Club when I attend courses on the Sunshine Coast. Once again I would like to re iterate how privileged I have been in life to know these unconditional giving people.
Nominated by Helen Brown (Club Administrator)
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Baseball
Best Club: Northern Pirates Baseball Club
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The club is nearing its 50th year in Baseball in the Illawarra. The club has been successful in winning both Minor Premierships and being Premiers in various grades. 3rd grade this year will be its 4th consecutive win as Minor Premiers and will be attempting for its 5th consecutive Premiership. 2nd grade will be attempting to win its 2nd consecutive Premiership, 1st grade has won back to back Minor Premiers and will also being looking at back to back Premierships. All this has been mostly achieved over recent years due to a strong junior club base of players that are coming up through the senior ranks. Lower grades in the club have also been successful in doing the same with consecutive Minor premierships and consecutive Premierships. This will also be consecutive years for taking out the Club Championship for the Illawarra League which indicates a good depth within the Pirates club.
Nominated by Ross Baker (Vice President)
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Baseball
Best Club: Camden Redsox Baseball Club
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This club is about to start its 3rd season in the Macarthur Baseball League. In its first season the club managed to take out 2 premierships. In its second season the club had 3 teams represent 1st grade. They managed to finish 1, 2 & 3. The club was incredibly strong before the first ever game was played. The committee had managed to fund raise and find a huge amount of sponsorship to help supply all the uniforms and equipment needed for all the new sides. The club was only expecting to field approx 3 teams in its first year. They managed to triple that and for an inaugural club this was hard work behind the scenes. The club took on the challenge and succeeded with flying colours and as a result this coming summer comp the team number are set to increase again. The professionalism and reputation the club has after such a short amount of time is incredible. I am extremely proud to be a part of this club and follow its success so closely. The club itself is an asset to the baseball community and has already provided the Rep teams with several players. The prize would be perfect for the club to help promote the sport even more in the local area. It could be used at the ground and especially good for when we take the junior teams away for the tournaments as there are several each year and we seem to supply a side in each. Just to be nominated is a huge achievement in itself for this category.
Nominated by Daniel Medd (player)
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Baseball
Best Club: Toowoomba Rangers Baseball Club
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Toowoomba Rangers was founded by my grandfather who was the pioneer of baseball and softball in Toowoomba and surrounding region. My grandfarther Ian Luchterhand started softball and baseball in the early 90 late 80s. He has passed away approx 8 years ago now and our family are striving to keep his baseball dreams alive. We have family from Brisbane to Toowoomba involved in baseball not including all the new familiess from overseas and around Australia that we encounter every year. We are in a Brisbane comp and we have to travel a lot which is hard for our junior teams/players to get around. We would benefit for the Clubbie as we would be able to take our youth teams away for tournaments and to away games. It would make it a lot easier for us to be able to provide a service for our youth players to keep them playing the sport and help they're families with travel costs.
Nominated by Wase Jensn (Player)
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Baseball
Best Club: North Balwyn Baseball Club
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North Balwyn Baseball Club welcomes all baseball fans and their families, young and old, beginner or advanced, and makes them feel like family. They have done so much to further the sport within Australia! We recently moved to Australia and didn’t know a soul. We were welcomed into the club, and the surrounding community through the club. Thank you NBBBC!
MIke Bailey (Member, player, and parent of player)
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Baseball
Best Club: Research Lower Plenty Baseball Club
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I'm new to the club and the game of baseball. The boys down at Research Lower Plenty have been so welcoming and supportive, it’s like I have known the boys for 10 years. They are like brothers.
Nominated by Chris Lagerwey (player)
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Water Skiing and Wakeboarding
Best Club: Townsville Waterski Club Incorporated
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Townsville Water Ski Club is the largest Club of its type in North Queensland. We have held a World Disabled Waterski Chapionships in 2007, and State and National Waterski Championships in 2011 & we are the home of what is fast becoming one of the largest regional waterski events on the National Calendar, the TWSC "Croc Run". This event has been running for 5 years now and now attracts skiers from all over Australia and USA. TWSC has been a major player in the growth of tournament waterskiing in Qld and Northern Australia.
Scott Keevers (Member and Club President)
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Rowing
Best Club: Balmain Rowing Club Rowing
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Balmain is a community rowing club and our shed doors are open to everyone. The club inspires me, because for the last 130 years, we’ve provided boats, rowing coaching, squad training and camaraderie to generations of local sporting folk. Our original clubhouse was built in 1882 and our membership was almost entirely working class men. Our competition outfits - the traditional Balmain black and gold hoops - are still reminiscent of the old neck to knee swimwear from the 1800s. Our boats are named after Life Members who contributed their time, their energy and often their savings, to the Club. Almost 60% of our members served during World War I and many are honoured within our fleet. As a novice I always rowed a boat called the "Ron Beattie." I'll never forget the day a man in a tinnie approached me at the start of a race and introduced himself as Ron Beattie. Most rowing clubs focus on competition - and while that's a component of rowing at Balmain, it's not everything. Over the years, Balmain has produced both world champions and Olympic medalists and we regularly have rowers competing at national and international levels. Most of our members, however, are novice rowers from the local community who simply want to participate in the sport for fitness. We have no entry or selection criteria and welcome rowers of all ages, from teenagers to retirees - we are a motley crew. Our volunteer coaches will teach anyone that is interested in the sport, to row and we provide coaching seven days a week. Like most volunteer organisations, we manage all aspects of running the club, inhouse. We repair our boats when they break, we patch our clubhouse when it leaks and we run cake stalls and fundraising events year round. There are many members who work tirelessly to improve the club and I sometimes ask myself why we all bother. I know it's because we want to give back to the sport we love. It's also because the clubbies of yesteryear did the same thing for me - and I really, really appreciate it.
Lara Frolchenko (Vice Captain)
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Soccer
Best Club: Mudgee Gulgong Wolves
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I've been involved with the club for just on 6 months and have seen the machinations of a country club for the first time as I originally come from Sydney. This club has 528 players that range from 4 to 50 that all enjoy playing the world game. This club endeavours to provide every player with their strip (shorts and socks) and goes out of its way to administer the local competition. A Clubbie would enable our club to reduce deliver costs for our Canteen but also enable us to take our Saturday childrens/youths competition to other towns in our area being Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone. This would enable us to show these towns our position in the community in bringing the sport to the area in introducing soccer coaching courses as well.
Nominated by Shane McDermott (Ladies Team Coach)
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Boxing
Best Club: Latrobe Boxing Club
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I believe our boxing club deserves to win a Clubbie because we have managed what we believe are a number of outstanding achievements over the past eight years of operations. Latrobe Boxing Club is situated in Latrobe Tasmania which has a population of approximately 4200 people. Latrobe Boxing Club, since our inception has had 17 Australian Champions across all categories, Schoolboy, junior, youth and elite. Our club has had one Olympic representative, 3 Commonwealth Games representatives and 2 World Amateur Championship representatives at Elite level. Our boxers have won a Youth Commonwealth Gold & Silver medals in 2011 in the Isle of Man. Our club was recognized at 2014 Australian Titles as the boxing hot spot in Australia. We still have no major sponsor and believe if we won a Clubbie it would assist us in furthering the boxing careers of those juniors coming through hoping to emulate those who have been before them. Our boxers train in a 10m x 5m shed at the back of the coach’s residence. If we were selected we would greatly appreciate the exposure and additional funds.
Nominated by Steven Hardy (Assistant Coach)
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Equestrian
Best Club: Thoroughbred Riding Club
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In 2011 we decided to form a specialist riding club designed for the training and re-educating of Thoroughbreds and Off the Track Thoroughbreds. On the cusp on retiring my racehorses I wanted to form a club where Thoroughbreds, particularly OTTB’s, could be supported and receive specialist retraining as equestrian horses in a positive and constructive environment. We also instigated Australia’s first and only Thoroughbred exclusive competition circuit.
Nominated by Lisa Brown (president and founder)
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Boxing
Best Club: Lilydale Youth Boxing Club
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This boxing club accepts all people from various walks of life. All are encouraged to do their best and when and if they get to a certain level they are encouraged to go further and enter competitions. I have seen people that don't really fit in to traditional sports, excel here as the club encourage all people to be the best that they can be at whatever level they choose. My son has belonged to the club for 8 years.
Nominated by Kate Garside (parent of player)
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Soccer
Best Club: Pagewood Botany Football Club
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I would like to nominate the Pagewood Botany Football Club for the Best Club Award for many reasons. I have been coaching at the club for 9 years and have seen firsthand the club evolve into a fantastic community club that I am very proud to coach at. When I started at the Club there were about 400 players, this year the club has over 1800 players and is the biggest single sporting club in the Eastern Suburbs. I know from personal relationships that the club does a lot in helping disadvantaged families by way of waiving and/or subsidising fees in times of hardship. I know the club paid for fees for one of my former players so he could play in the State Representative Competition which was $2400. In return the club had asked the player to help set up fields and assist on the BBQ so as the player and the family didn’t see it as a hand-out. I found this to be an amazing gesture from the club. I’m also overwhelmed about how many players from this club who have gone on to play representative football. For many years now the club has been very successful on the field but it is what they do off the field that inspires me. Each year the club host a Fundraiser Day to support a different charity. These charities include The Black Dog Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes, The Breast Cancer Foundation and The Prostate Cancer Foundation. The 2015 Fundraiser raised over $10,000 for The Kids Helpline. Incredible!!! As well as the Fundraiser Days, each year the club also supports other local community events such as; • The Carols in the Park for the City of Botany Bay Council whereby the club runs the Sausage Sizzle and donates all monies to a nominated Charity • The Annual Multicultural Fair, representing Sport (Football) • The Police Expo LAC Annual Event. • School Fetes, where the Club donates prizes and equipment whenever asked • Anzac Day at Memorial Park Mascot. Free BBQ & Drinks to all in attendance. Every Monday, at our home ground Jellicoe Park when I train my team, the club organises training for the Windgap Foundation. The team is known as the Pagewood “Windgap Warriors”. The club supplies training equipment and each player with their own uniform. It’s fantastic to watch the Men & Women of various ages given the opportunity to share in the experiences that sport offers. The Club also hosts Gala Days where other Respite Organisations are invited to our ground for a fun day of events. The Club sets up fields, supply the BBQ, Referees, Trophy Presentations. This Club, its Board and its Volunteer’s energy, passion and commitment to the sport and the community in something I haven’t seen before. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I could go on however I thank you for the opportunity to allow me to express my experiences at this wonderful club.
Nominated by Marko Kraljevic (Coach)
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Motor Racing
Best Club: Pakenham Auto Club Inc
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February 1972: Steve Cornwall and John Carney thought of forming a car club. Steve favoured social/hotrod type club whereas John wanted to drive as fast as he could. Their motivation—to share their motoring/motorsport interests with other enthusiasts. Forty years on that’s still the predominant motivation to join Pakenham Auto Club. Events began in 1973 with Motorkhanas down at Convent School Road. Our first Hillclimb was at Morwell in Oct 1974 with 80+ entries. In 1976 a successful motor show at the Racecourse raised over $500 for Peninsula Air Ambulance (a significant amount of money then); we also ran regular rallies. The lowest point in club history, December 1977; just three people attended the Annual General Meeting—they formed the Committee. All very unconstitutional but the existence of the club today with 300+ members demonstrates its effectiveness. John Hill then phoned around to gain more members; John Carney spoke to his father about the back paddock. By July 1978 our first Autocross ran on grass at Carney’s. The track ran like that for seven years, when Ian Studd offered to bring the grader up and improve it. He and Peter Dutneall, operating Landy Norrie’s excavator, formed and drained the track in a day. The predominant activity was circuit racing; any Winton, Calder, Sandown or Phillip Island race programme in the early 80s showed seven or eight PAC-entered drivers. Early 80s Nick Wright and Glad Fish joined. Their keen interest, and the escalating cost of racing, drove the focus of the club towards Rallying, so we moved back into organising rallies. Our first Yakkerboo Rally (1993) led to a new group of successful PAC competitors, including National champions, Simon and Sue Evans, Eli Evans and Scott Pedder. Also in the 80s Mick Kelly helped us with AoMC affiliation, allowing members to enjoy the Club Permit Scheme. In 1997 John Carney pursued and received a $550 Vic Sport and Recreation grant for a Junior Development Programme that CAMS soon adopted. Working through local secondary schools our membership peaked at 330 by the end of 2004. After 21 years of service, in 1999, the track at Carney’s farm couldn’t handle the entries our Autocross meetings were generating; the decision came to move to land on KooWeeRup Rd (for the freeway bypass). Again Ian Studd provided heavy equipment to build a new facility; July 2000—85 competitors enjoyed the first Autocross. Last event there was January 2005. In 2008, Cardinia Shire Council provided our current temporary site on McGregor Rd. Conversation with the Shire regarding permanent facilities continues. Since May 1972 nearly 2,000 people interested in motoring/motorsport joined PAC to participate in varied activities. Those that have stayed the full journey have adapted to focus changes from Motorkhana to Autocross to Racing to Rallying and back again. What hasn’t changed is the desire PAC people have to share motoring.
Nominated by Glad Fish (Secretary)
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Australian football
Best Club: Wanneroo Amateur Football Club
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I would like to nominate Wanneroo Amateur Football Club for the ‘Clubbies’ Award as I believe they really represent the values and contributions a community club can make. On a personal level, I started playing with them as a 16 year old. The junior side I was playing with locally folded midway through the season due to some unfortunate circumstances. This left a number of players with nowhere to continue to follow our passion for footy. Within a couple of days we had all been approached by the Wanneroo Club and invited to come to their club. I and others who took up the offer were made to feel very welcome and soon became accepted and continued to play footy at a time when we may have drifted off and been lost to the game. Shortly after I played for the senior Colts team and was lucky enough to play in a Premiership in 2012, the first Colts premiership the club had won. Subsequently I have played at all senior levels and the club is now in the ‘B’ Grade of the WAAFL. The club however, besides a great camaraderie on the field, is a shining example of what a community based club can contribute and offer. The club prides its self on what it gives back to not only to the community, but also to the football fraternity. They aim to sponsor our local junior teams as well as providing a source of coaches. They have also had, over the years, representatives on the WAAFL executive, which sets the policy for the league. We have also produced recruits for the Fremantle Dockers, West Perth, East Perth, State and All Australian Amateurs teams. With limited resources and finances they have endeavoured to give back to the community in more than just football terms. Examples of such are as follows: • Donated to the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfire appeal • Annually conduct a pink Ladies Day Fundraiser for Breast Cancer raising in access of $1,000 per annum – the senior team plays in pink shirts for the day to highlight the cause and increase awareness and publicity • Openly addresses male depression and youth suicide within the club offering free literature and a support base – played a round this year dedicated to the ‘Beyond Blue’ cause and played in Blue shirts to highlight the occasion • Sponsors and provides equipment to the Lao Elephants AFL club – two Thai players travelled to Wanneroo this season and played as guests in the senior 5th team, the first time thy had ever left their country • Currently developing Football Scholarships for African immigrants • Assists the Joondalup Women’s Football Team with training and clubroom facilities. The Club’s main focus is its onfield performance, player welfare/enjoyment and building its standing and support within the community. With this formula we continue to grow as a family friendly club and as a sense of place for the community.
Nominated by Andrew Webber (Player)
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Table Tennis
Best Club: Austral Korean Table Tennis Association
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Austral Korean Table Tennis Associaton (AKTTA) is a member of Table Tennis NSW. AKTTA functions not only for Korean community in Australia to gather together and enjoy table tennis to improve their health but also for other minor cultural background communities such as Chinese, Vietnamese and also Aussies to unify thru table tennis by exchanging various sports activities together. AKTTA currently about 200 members including juniors and adults. AKTTA is focusing to find and train young players and many of its junior players are now representing country and state. AKTTA hosts many competitions including Lee Elisa Cup which was its 9th competition in this year. AKTTA is acting as the most active sports club in Korean community in Australia.
Ian Roh (Vice president)
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Cricket
Best Club: SYDNEY UNIVERSITY CRICKET CLUB
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Look no further for Australia’s Sporting Club of the Year than Sydney University Cricket Club (SUCC). SUCC has had an outstanding season on the field in 2014/15: 1. 2nd in the Sydney Cricket Association’s Club Championship after winning in 2013/14. 2. Making the finals series in four of our five Grades. 3. Winning the 2nd Grade premiership for a fourth consecutive season. 4. Claiming the Sydney Thunder conference of the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup (undefeated). 5. Finishing runners-up overall in the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup with the final held at the SCG. 6. Finishing runners-up in the Metropolitan Cup competition (6th Grade). 7. Finishing runners-up in the Green Shield (U16) competition, making the grand final for the first time in our Club’s history. Our on-field success is only a small part of what makes SUCC Australia’s Sporting Club of the Year. We are proud that our success hasn’t come at any price, being recognised as the SCA Grade Club that most demonstrates the spirit in which sport should be played, SUCC has claimed the SCA’s Spirit of Cricket Award for a third consecutive season. This spirit is developed through a strong and passionate culture which fills our Club with proud and determined people. This spirit also extends off-the-field with an active and vibrant social atmosphere, seeing most of our members, family and friends joining us for a wide-ranging social calendar from our clean sweep parties at our post-match sponsor venue, to golf days and corporate lunches. The highlights of SUCC’s social calendar for 2014/15 was celebrating our 150th Anniversary as a Club, making us one of the oldest continuously running cricket clubs in Australia. We celebrated the milestone with a dinner held at the SCG for over 300 of our members, alumni, family, friends and supporters. The dinner included a walk across the hallowed turf of the SCG before hearing from Test legends and former SUCC members Ed Cowan and Stuart MacGill. Our Chairman and a fellow Club stalwart also produced a book of the Club’s 150-year history titled “Golden Blues. Sydney University Cricket: 150 years of the club and its players” that was launched at the dinner. We also take pride that we are developing wonderful people, not just cricketers. Our Club provides sporting scholarships at the University of Sydney for promising young cricketers through the Elite Athlete Program. This program allows young athletes to combine the sport they love, with the opportunity to study their chosen fields, volunteer to coach young kids and develop into people that will make a difference to the world. Sydney University Cricket Club is more than a Club, we are an institution of cricketing excellence. Proud of our history, excited by our future, and passionate about the legacy we leave. We are Australia’s Sporting Club of the Year.
Nominated by DALE BRYANT (CLUB ADMINISTRATOR)
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Rugby Union
Best Club: Drummoyne District Junior Rugby Club
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I would like to nominate the Drummoyne District Junior Rugby Club as the best sporting club in Australia. This Club goes above and beyond in everything they do from the initial warm and friendly registration nights at the beginning of the season to the final presentation day; every event and game is open to the entire family. Plus nothing gets Mums there quicker than a free BBQ dinner on a Friday night after a busy week at the beginning of the season. The training sessions are well organised, fun and there is no better venue than Drummoyne Oval. All games, gala days and club events are well communicated and always well organised. Plus the Junior Club's involvement in the Seniors Club and the wider rugby community is both encouraging and inspiring to the junior players of the club. Most importantly everyone feels included and it's not about winning but always about having a fun time with friends! It's a club that prides itself on friendship and having fun and it is an absolute pleasure to be a member of this great club.
Nominated by Melissa Fernley (Parent of a child playing)
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Table Tennis
Best Club: Croydon and Districts Table Tennis Association
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Croydon and Districts Table Tennis Association is one of the best clubs in Australia. Their committee provides outstanding service to their members whether they are junior, senior, veteran or disabled. Their attention to detail and service are second to none and go far and beyond that of normal clubs.
Nominated by Peter Marriott (CEO Table Tennis Australia)
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Soccer
Best Club: Mayfield United Junior Soccer Football Club NNSW
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Our small junior club is growing bigger each year and provides opportunities to all children and adults, regardless of age, gender and ability. We have specialised teams targeting talented players, and put them on the right pathway for future identification by our Zone Association. We have a large base of volunteers that commit many hours to making sure our club is successful and every venture we undertake with impact positively on the players. A worthy nomination for the club if ever there was one.
Nominated by Ainsleigh Bates (Secretary)
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Swimming
Best Club: Maryborough Swimming Club
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Where do I start? 1974 when I first joined the Maryborough Swimming Club as a competitive swimmer. Thirty years later I am now the President. I am extremely proud of our club children and club parents. Each play a key role in promoting swimming, fitness and fun in our community. We provide an inclusive environment and welcome everyone. As a club we pulled together after we lost everything in the devastating floods, we worked hard and we never gave up. Our club is more than a place to train, each afternoon parents, children, friends, relatives come together, meet and greet and socialize because this club is not just about training it’s about meeting the people along the way.
Nominated by Rhonda Davis (President, mother, member, swimmer)
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Swimming
Best Club: Albany Creek Swim Club
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The Albany Creek Swim Club deserves to win best club due to the amazing opportunities it provides its members, from excellent coaching; to education and skills development for wellbeing of parents, coaches and swimmers; to providing a supportive environment for all our kids to develop to their potential and build strong respectful friendships.
Nominated by Sue Dippelsmann (Parent)
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Dragon Boating
Best Club: NAGA Spirit Dragon Boat Club NSW
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I joined last year October (2014). Ever since joining, I've received nothing less of support, encouragement and friendly coaching from our coach and existing members. The people in the club are great people, all encouraging, mates being mates, and always striving to improve. This past year, I've seen the club up their game, and pushing to improve to higher levels, and now we're starting a new season with a new energy. This is a great club to be with, and this is my club.
Nominated by Ralph Ingles (Crew Member)
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Netball
Best Club: Sparkling Diamonds Inc
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Sparkling Diamonds Inc. deserves to win a Clubbie as it is the best club in Australia. Diamonds is unique and offers more than just netball. The club helps the disadvantaged, migrants, assists those who would not usually play, supports them to be able to play netball and is like a second family. Sparkling Diamonds was formed in 2007 as a community netball club to give disadvantaged, troubled children the opportunity to play netball. It has since expanded to include people, regardless of their background, nationality, ethnicity, religion, ability or disability. Currently there are eight teams at the junior level and one senior team. The club’s vision is that all young people, despite circumstances should have the opportunity to play netball. Diamonds began to accept refugee children and has since become truly multicultural with players from over 22 different countries. About two thirds of the club’s netballers are from African countries. It is supportive of people from a diverse range of backgrounds and is the distinctiveness of the club. Allowances are made so that all girls can play. Physically and mentally compromised girls are given the support they need to play. Uniforms are sometimes custom made to allow religious or cultural dress preferences to be accommodated. Fees, uniforms and transport are all subsidised by the club according to need. The subscriptions and uniform fees are low for those who can afford to pay the full amount. The club monitors the welfare of the girls. It provides food in case of need and clothing from opportunity shops that work alongside. Some girls were in trouble socially and have been first helped on the court and then off the court. Some are given assistance with homework and subsequent school grades have improved. Eligible players are transported to training and games by a volunteer driven van. Without this service over 30 girls would not be able to play. Another vehicle would really be appreciated so that more girls can be transported and have the opportunity to play. Volunteers work long hours coaching teams, assisted by the parents. The club could not run without them. Children and youth are pleased to represent the club in umpiring, coaching and through a Youth Ambassadors Program. The Sparkling Diamonds netball club is more like a family than a club. It's a place where the girls feel safe and welcomed and where they feel like they belong and are truly appreciated. The motherly and fatherly figures of the coaches, van drivers and other volunteers add to the family community spirit. The camaraderie, especially among those of different cultural backgrounds, is uplifting. Sport is a great leveller and bridges the gaps between these diverse groups and places these girls on the same side.
Nominated by Robyn Graham (Parent of players and umpires in the club and Fundraising Officer)
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Surf Lifesaving
Best Club: Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Life Saving Club
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Our club has just won the Queensland Surf Life Saving Club of the year for 2015. We also won this award last year in 2014. To achieve such high accolades we have had continual improvement against our Strategic Plan objectives across the whole Club due to enhanced leadership, governance and morale from all members. Over the last year we have continually grown in membership numbers with a 6% increase in the past season with a 23% overall membership growth achieved over the last four seasons. We have improved our life saving services and contribution to aquatic safety on the Gold Coast by expanding our patrol footprint by also supporting other surf life saving clubs on the Gold Coast. Our Club continually nurtures our Junior Activities program which is from Under 6’s to Under 14’s. Last season our nipper membership grew from 280 to 300 members in this age group. We continue to maintain a strong partnership with our closest school, Broadbeach State School, which is also the highest source of Nippers for the Club. We continue to maintain a friend and family orientated culture around the Club that contributes significantly to morale, enthusiasm and membership growth. We deserve to win a Clubbie award as our Club is continuously looking at ways to improve all aspects of Surf Life Saving for all our members and to encourage each and every one of them to stay safe in the water and to enjoy all areas that Surf Life Saving can offer. We contribute to people lives every day encouraging a healthy lifestyle whilst enjoying our beautiful beaches and keeping them safe in the water. Mermaid Beach SLSC has a strong standing within the local community, which we pride ourselves on daily. For our Club to win a Hyundai iMax it would help us dearly as our current 12 seater bus is past it use by date and requires a replacement within the next 6 months. We would be able to utilise the Hyundai iMax to transport our members to training, carnivals and countless other activities that we encourage our members to attend. It would be a perfect vehicle for us to use as we could strap rescue boards onto the roof racks, strong enough to tow rescue and training equipment, spacious enough for interstate trips and it has the latest in safety and performance technologies. This vehicle would be ideal for us to use on a daily basis and a necessary asset to our club.
Nominated by Lee Murphy (Business Administrator)
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Surf Lifesaving
Best Club: Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club
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Since 1922 Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), a proud member of the Kingscliff Community, has grown from 25 original members to 1,465 members and now not only provides valuable lifesaving service to the community and visitors on the beach, but provides support and assistance for community events. 196 patrolling members and 60 cadets provided over 5,000 hours of volunteer service in 2014/15. Gains in key performance areas as follows: Season Statistics 14/15 13/14 Senior Membership 332 278 Junior Membership 212 188 Active Associates 188 155 Non-Active Associates 733 746 Total membership 1465 1367 Awards 1084 722 Rescues 6 13 First Aid Treatments 83 27 Preventative Actions 671 391 Patrol Hours Served 5423 5249 Cudgen Headland have done a lot of very impressive work throughout the season including implementing a ‘one club’ structure, developing a three year plan for change management within the club, and subsequently an Annual Development Plan which is developed following annual workshops with the Board. They have established some very effective sub-committees and have implemented new policy and guidelines to support their operations. The Club has also worked in conjunction with others to develop the ALBERT program, a new and model of training for the club. Additionally they have worked to contribute to lifesaving internationally through their sister relationship with the Phuket Lifeguard Club, as well as other clubs in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Japan. Australian Lifesaving Boat Emergency Rescue Training (ALBERT) program Over the last two seasons the club has successfully developed a Training program through joint collaboration with members from the other four Tweed Coast based clubs (Fingal Rovers; Brunswick Heads, Salt and Cabarita Beach SLSC) to assist with developing the skills of our Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) drivers and crews during the off season by delivering practical rescue training and refining emergency response capabilities using multiple rescue resources. This season they received endorsement for the program from the FNC Branch. The ALBERT program seeks to recruit Lifesavers as well as to motivate, train and maintain highly skilled IRB Teams, Rescue Water Craft (RWC) Operators and Rescue Boat Crews for rescue situations. The ALBERT program encourages and promotes increased standards for equipment ownership and maintenance through the clubs Captains, Branch Trainers/Assessors, RWC Coordinators and the Emergency Response Officer. The ALBERT program allows club members to gain experience and the opportunity to train in a variety of conditions at different beaches – invaluable if a callout is initiated and our members are needed to participate in a search at a neighbouring beach. International Contribution: In 2004 the club formed a sister relationship with the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC) , this club has continued its beach management of Phuket’s 11 beaches with long term local Government statistics revealing a significant drop in drowning deaths on Phuket’s beaches since the PLC took over in 2009. As well as assisting to continue this work in Phuket, Cudgen Headland SLSC members supported the development of lifeguard services in a number of emerging nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan. Community Events: Cudgen SLSC also contributes gear, first aid and manpower for community events such as Anzac Day commemorations and fundraisers such as cancer events and walks. This season they supplied first aid support to the following events: • Australian IRB Championships • Kingscliff twice yearly triathlon events • Coolangatta gold • Casuarina Touch Football cup • Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Triathlon at Kingscliff (held twice a year) • Battle of the border bike race • Branch carnivals on Kingscliff beach • Cancer Council Relay for life Walk.
Nominated by Alex Mecham
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Surf Lifesaving
Best Club: Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club Inc
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Kurrawa Surf Club has been my club for more than 30 years - the committee and members all regard each other as one big family; lifesaving responsibilities on the beach during the patrol season and just so well catered for; everything to keep the public, as well as the members, safe is provided. Training of members is superb; qualifications to save a life are paramount and every member is trained in not only saving their own life, but that of the general public. Competitors are highly trained and skilled in their craft and are the showcase of the club as their lifesaving aptitudes are honed to a very professional level. Over all the club is a happy place to be; it is overseen by a dedicated Board of passionate lifesavers and we couldn't ask for more than that.
Nominated by Marie Bennetts (Life Member, Peer Support Officer, Radio instructor)
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